Saturday, June 14, 2014

Blessing of the Executive Judge Voltaire Antonio Y. Rosales Room and Red Mass at Ateneo Law School Rockwell, Makati June 10 2014

The Ateneo Law School celebrated the Red Mass last Tuesday 10
June 2014 at the St. Thomas More Chapel, Ateneo Law School Rockwell. The Red
Mass coincided with my Dad’s 10th death anniversary. Father Joaquin
Bernas, with Father Lito and Father Student (IJ) (hehe he’s a Jesuit priest who
happens to be a law student as well), co-celebrated the mass. I was shocked to
hear them pray for my Dad specifically because I was under the impression that the
mass was for all. I felt a tear go down when I heard Voltaire Antonio Y.
Rosales mentioned. For those of you who don’t know, 10 Years ago, on June 10,
2004, my father was assassinated a few meters away from his court in Tanauan,
Batangas.

As an Executive Judge, he handled heinous crimes cases and sentenced many drug lords to death. We know the whats and whys it happened, and if you want to read more, I suggest you click the link box on my blog to know more.

Aside from the Red Mass, the events for the day included the blessing of my father’s room on the third floor, now called the “Executive Judge Voltaire Y. Rosales Room”, and the honouring of other Atenean members of the judiciary from the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Court of Tax Appeals, Sandiganbayan and the Trial Courts.

Last June 10 was to honour not just my dad, but many other good Atenean members of the judiciary from the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Court of Tax Appeals, Sandiganbayan and the Trial Courts.

I’m sure my dad would agree with me when I say that more important than people remembering his name, it is important that people know that there are many good Justices and Judges in our country who just want to do their job, earn a decent wage to provide for those they love, and go home to their family. Most members of the judiciary live like that. I’ve seen it myself. Like any other parent, they just want to go home, be hugged by their kids and comforted by their partner after a long serious day.

Sadly, the few bad apples in the judiciary are the ones that get the headlines. By honouring my father by naming a room “The Executive Judge Voltaire Y. Rosales Room” in Ateneo Law School, the Ateneo seeks to show that everyday people, everyday members of the judiciary, like my dad, exist, and like him, many just want to dispense justice for our country and many would be willing to give the ultimate sacrifice, to die for their beliefs. My Dad was an ordinary guy who chose to do an extra-ordinary thing by sticking to his principles and values. I believe, if my dad can inspire even just one person to have a passion for justice, if he can give people hope that there are good justices and judges out there, then maybe we can slowly wither away the cynicism we have for government, and maybe, we, as Filipinos can move on to greater things.

The "Judges"/prof's table at the Voltaire Y. Rosales Room Ateneo Law Rockwell, Makati

Bea Padilla reads the Award/citation of the Province of Batangas on Judge Voltaire Y. Rosales

Wide view of the Executive Judge Voltaire Y. Rosales Room at Ateneo Law School Rockwell, Makati

The Ateneo Law Journal dedicated to Judge Voltaire Y. Rosales and the wooden statue awarded to him by the Ateneo de Manila University when he was given the Lux in Domino Award

Left to Right: Voltaire Y. Rosales' oath taking as a judge before Chief Justice Puno, an article by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines on his assassination, a news article by the Philippine Star titled "Incorruptible Judge gets Ka Pepe Diokno Award", Provincial resolution and citation giving honour to Judge Voltaire Y. Rosales for his service in the Province of Batangas given by the provincial council and Governor Hermilando I. Mandanas, Award/Citation given by the Ateneo Law Alumni Association in recognition of Judge Rosales' contribution to the Philippine legal system and the Painting by Manansala of Judge Voltaire Y. Rosales

Aside from the citations given to him for his sacrifice and news articles honoring my father, we also framed his Eucharistic / lay minister stole that he wore when he served during mass. My Dad was a devotee to the Sacred Heart, a lay minister, lecturer in our local parish at Santuario de San Antonio, Makati, and a household head for Couples for Christ. My dad would drape his stole over the passenger seat of his car and bring it with him wherever he went so he would be ready to serve. It was his source of strength when he travelled to Batangas. When he was assassinated, his blood spattered over the stole. The stole, with his gavel and the Lux In Domino Award given by Ateneo were framed together as a symbol of my dad’s dedication to God and Country.

Atty. Jack Jimenez, Tito Teddy Cruz, Justice Hofilena

The Ribbon Cutting for the Judge Voltaire Y. Rosales Room

Dean Candelaria with Atty. Cruz

Christian and Cla

Executive Judge Voltaire Y. Rosales Room Marker

The blessing of the Judge Voltaire Rosales Room fills the corridors

and spills into the atrium

Stef Lim at the Judge Voltaire Y. Rosales Room Ateneo Law School

MTRCB Chair Toto Villareal at the Judge Voltaire Y. Rosales Room blessing at Ateneo Law School

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About Me

I've got a mind spotted with candy and TNT. Lost in the law. I'm an obsessive compulsive that reads almost anything. Reads almost anything. I like my video games and funny things. Good natured people with a sense of humour. I really just started this to write about my Dad, it's a long story, but there should be a link box below all this to explain why. Tweet me @viclr33